Sunday, April 12, 2020

It's Okay To Mourn Senior Year 2020



My son is a senior.

He still doesn't know if he'll be returning to school in May. Or if he'll be having a graduation ceremony. Prom has been moved until late May. For now. But it could change in an instant.

He misses his friends and his favorite teachers. He doesn't know if he'll be seeing them again.




He misses his routine.

He misses learning. To a point. (He's never been big on math.)

I can see that some days are easier than others. So I tell him it's okay to be upset. To mourn. This wasn't supposed to happen.

He has autism, so he's not incredibly social. But he's still bummed. I thought he wouldn't mind if there wasn't a graduation ceremony because, you know, all those people.

But no, he is hoping for a ceremony and it makes sense: he's gone to the same high school for four years and he's earned his right to cross a stage. It might not be his favorite thing to do, but he planned on doing it.

Until this new world we're living in happened.

It's okay for seniors to mourn. They'll never get senior year again. Oh sure, they'll have stories to tell about their senior year, and maybe the sting of missing out will fade, but it'll always be there.

So mourn. Cry.



And know that family will be there and even if it's not the graduation ceremony that is expected, one will happen.


The class of 2020 will be celebrated. Always.



38 comments:

  1. My heart breaks for these seniors! My son is in 8th grade and we mourn that he'll miss his 8th grade graduation and saying goodbye to friends before they go to various high schools. I can't even imagine how hard it has been for the high school seniors.

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  2. oh my goodness. my heart feels for seniors. That was the best year!! so many amazing memories. i love this post so much it will help many!!!

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  3. my heart breaks for your boy. I have found since I left high school (11 years now) that Senior year was really the best year of my life. Even though I was not a popular kid, I wasnt into sports in high school but man how much i yearn for the simplicity of those days. I miss the friends and the staying up late. So for all the seniors being robbed of their senior year my heart aches for them. but not just for them, the parents too. We as parents work hard to get our babies to this moment. All of he nights we spent up late helping with last minute projects, all of the parent teacher conferences, the study sessions. The moment they walk across the stage to get their diploma is our moment too. Our hard work, our tears, our fears and worries of if we did enough. This is a life defining moment for not only them but us too. So my heart breaks for you too! I really hope and pray that not only does your baby get that moment but you do too! sending love and light

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  4. Is it definite that it will resume in May? If yes, lucky him. Because here in my country, we still don't know when this is going to last. Till then, everything will be closed. :)

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  5. I am hoping that schools will figure out a good way to honor their seniors when they can!

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  6. Covid 19 has touched us in so many ways and really upset the routines. I am sure you will help him to enjoy his graduation in a special way

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  7. I feel really bad for the class of 2020. It’s so sad how everything changed instantly. Looking forward to them having some type of normalcy before the end of the school year.

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  8. We all miss the regular flow of life. I’m sad for my students who are graduating this year because I might never see them again. But hopefully they all will find meaning out of all of this and keep faith.

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  9. It must be so hard for anyone meant to graduate this year. The pandemic is putting so many plans on hold. They might hold a virtual graduation ceremony like they did in Japan?

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  10. We're all missing so many important things and losing time. It sucks. But it is what it is and what does not kill us makes us stronger.

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  11. That is so sad everybody has their senior experience,everybody have their senior prom experience. I know he must be a little bit sad about it but is better to survive than to die after a big party.

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  12. My senior year was pretty amazing. I grew closer with my friends. I celebrated homecoming. I experienced things that I am forever grateful for. I went to prom (even though it was lame). I walked at graduation and went to the senior all night party. It was such a good year. And my heart hurts for all the seniors this year who won't get all those experience. I am so sorry for your son.

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  13. ugh im sure its hard on everyone- my daughters only in kindergarten she just misses her friends

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  14. I try to remind my friends kiddos who are seniors that they are blessed to be alive. It's important to keep things in perspective.

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  15. Yes, I feel so sad for those graduating seniors going through all of this right now. I do hope that everything gets back to normal by May.

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  16. I feel for Tommy and your family! My son is a senior in college, so he's going through a lot of the same emotions. They already cancelled school for the rest of the year as well as the graduation ceremony. Although he knows how lucky we are to be okay, it is normal to grieve for the rites of passage that we've grown to expect.

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  17. This is such a hard time for kids that are about to step into the world, and autism makes it even more to have to deal with. I hope that things get back to normal soon enough that he gets to celebrate those final senior moments.

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  18. It is ok to be bummed out about all the things we are missing. That is such a big milestone!

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  19. My nephew is a senior and I know this is such a hard time. My daughter is having a hard enough time with missing the end of first grade, but I keep reminding her she gets to go back in August... my heart just breaks for the seniors.

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  20. I can't even imagine how hard this would be for a senior. Great post, I will be sure to share with those who have seniors.

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  21. OMG I love his shirt! My son graduated last year and I can't imagine how hard this is for 2020 seniors.

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  22. This is such a hard time for everyone and I feel sorry for your kid but we can get through this and I know he can.

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  23. I feel bad for him but I believe kids are resilient. I am sure he will be able to get over this. And I am glad that somehow they found humor about the situation (referring to the t-shirt).

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  24. There is always a days to celebrated graduation day. Everything will be back to normal. and we can start new.

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  25. My husband and I were just talking about all of the things this virus is robbing the year's seniors of. It is so heartbreaking for them. They have worked so hard to get there and then nothing.

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  26. It's definitely sad for seniors, but I'm hoping they'll have graduation. It may be a little late, but better late than never. -LYNNDEE

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  27. I still remember my graduation from high school, it is a super important time of life. In fact, it feels more like a right of passage...haha!! I sincerely hope that at the very least that his class has an event to represent the time spent during senior year.

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  28. I know it's been super hard on a lot of kids. I'm sure the seniors have it worse because it was their last year for school. I believe that our school is doing prom and graduation still no matter if it's months later.

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  29. This is such a special year for your son ... a major milestone in his life, before he steps out into the big world out there. Wishing him the very best for his graduation.

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  30. We are living difficult times. We all don't know what to expect or what will be tomorrow! But I think that everything will be alright!

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  31. It really is a stinker that they have missed part of the best year of school. I hope all is well with him!

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  32. A touching post. BB's granddaughter is also autistic and missing her friends and the routine of school. Highschool is definitely a major milestone for students and their parents, hopefully some sort of ceremony can be celebrated.

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  33. This breaks my heart. I really hope that everything will get better. I hope your son will get a chance to celebrate the graduation.

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  34. We are all losing a lot of important things and losing time. it's useless. But it makes us stronger.

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  35. I can't believe this is how they have to remember their senior year. Such a shame

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  36. I feel sad for him, even my kids missing school, teachers and friends. For him it will one of life time senior year. He is missing it. it so hard on him

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  37. I do understand seniors being disappointed about their last year of high school. Then again, most people start their lives and important relationships after high school.

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  38. This breaks my heart. Such a big milestone and something looked forward to for years is taken away.

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